s, and after them the
Italiots also, and finally to assail the empire and city of Carthage.
In the event of all or most of these schemes succeeding, we were then
to attack Peloponnese, bringing with us the entire force of the Hellenes
lately acquired in those parts, and taking a number of barbarians into
our pay, such as the Iberians and others in those countries, confessedly
the most warlike known, and building numerous galleys in addition to
those which we had already, timber being plentiful in Italy; and with
this fleet blockading Peloponnese from the sea and assailing it with
our armies by land, taking some of the cities by storm, drawing works of
circumvallation round others, we hoped without difficulty to effect its
reduction, and after this to rule the whole of the Hellenic name. Money
and corn meanwhile for the better execution of these plans were to be
supplied in sufficient quantities by the newly acquired places in those
countries, independently of our revenues here at home.

"You have thus heard the history of the present expedition from the man
who most exactly knows what our objects were; and the remaining generals
will, if they can, carry these out just the same. But that the states in
Sicily must succumb if you do not help them, I will now show. Although
the Siceliots, with all their inexperience, might even now be saved if
their forces were united, the Syracusans alone, beaten already in one
battle with all their people and blockaded from the sea, will be unable
to withstand the Athenian armament that is now there. But if Syracuse
falls, all Sicily falls also, and Italy immediately afterwards; and the
danger which I just now spoke of from that quarter will before long be
upon you. None need therefore fancy that Sicily only is in question;
Peloponnese will be so also, unless you speedily do as I tell you, and
send on board ship to Syracuse troops that shall able to row their ships
themselves, and serve as heavy infantry the moment that they land;
and what I consider even more important than the troops, a Spartan
as commanding officer to discipline the forces already on foot and to
compel recusants to serve. The friends that you have already will thus
become more confident, and the waverers will be encouraged to join
you. Meanwhile you must carry on the war here more openly, that the
Syracusans, seeing that you do not forget them, may put heart into their
resistance, and that the Athenians may be less able